^ Apparently if he hadn't gone for Willian he would have chosen Ballack.

 

He's got him in a three-man midfield as well, which is a bit odd. He also cites his goalscoring ability as one of his reasons for picking him.

 

Here's the link anyway: http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11668/9836532/ray-wilkins-chelsea8217s-team-of-the-decade

 

If I wanted creativity, I'd pick Ballack.

 

If I wanted goals, I'd pick Ballack.

 

If I wanted flair, I'd pick Ballack.

 

If I wanted a black, Brazilian footballer with an afro....I'd pick Ballack, but it'd be close. Obviously being black, Brazilian and having an afro would make it close, but it's that footballer bit that would swing it.

I think I'd pick Essien over Ballack.

 

 

 

Or Mikel.

I think I'd pick Essien over Ballack.

 

 

 

Or Mikel.

 

Ballack's still the most graceful player I think I've ever seen, right up there with Gullit. Beautifully composed, two-footed, strong, great in the air, amazing shot, brilliant passer....the complete footballer.

 

Willian....isn't.

 

Essien at his best would be a close, close pick though and it would be a coin toss between him and Ballack with Matic and Cesc close behind. I think even Ramires on his very, very best day would be worth a shout over Willian. But sadly not lord Jon Obi Wan Mikel (on May 4th of all days).

Essien>Ballack>Willian for me. If Willian scores more goals and gives more assists he can climb the ladder.

Essien is still one of my all time favourite footballers. Such a beast!

Wilkins has lost it nowadays

Essien>Ballack>Willian for me. If Willian scores more goals and gives more assists he can climb the ladder.

Essien is still one of my all time favourite footballers. Such a beast!

No arguing with that really, but if ballack had come a couple of seasons earlier he would be ahead of easier with daylight. I personally prefer ballack in terms of ability, but I think easier did more for the club, despite an injury ravaged career.

Had easier stayed fit, im sure we would have won at least another 2 titles under ra.

Essien>Ballack>Willian for me. If Willian scores more goals and gives more assists he can climb the ladder.

Essien is still one of my all time favourite footballers. Such a beast!

Agreed

If I wanted creativity, I'd pick Ballack.

If I wanted goals, I'd pick Ballack.

If I wanted flair, I'd pick Ballack.

If I wanted a black, Brazilian footballer with an afro....I'd pick Ballack, but it'd be close. Obviously being black, Brazilian and having an afro would make it close, but it's that footballer bit that would swing it.

The balack that in his first season and half couldn't find another chelsea player? One particular game I thought he was a city player. The man came good but it took him a good while. I would actually have Essien there. When fit he was a site to behold

The balack that in his first season and half couldn't find another chelsea player? One particular game I thought he was a city player. The man came good but it took him a good while. I would actually have Essien there. When fit he was a site to behold

 

The Ballack who was quite simply one of the best footballers I've ever seen.

I say Wilkins mistaken team of the year to team of the decade. Essien/Ballack all contributed more than willian in the last decade.

Well... Let's give him the benefit of the doubt and assume he's thinking from a coach/manager perspective and given all the personnel of the past decade at his disposal, he sees this team to be the one with the perfect balance for a style of football he would have liked.

Can't agree with him on the scoring abilities of Willian of course, but Willian would be arguably more suited than both Ballack and Essien to a flowing, pacy kind of game while still providing good defensive output.

The Ballack who was quite simply one of the best footballers I've ever seen.

 

 

At Leverkusan yes, and Bayarn yes... in his first season for Chelsea, the majority of this board where calling for a young Nigerian to take his place in the first team. He was inept for most of that season.

He's good.  Upped his game since Cuadrado came along.  THink he puts in more of a shift than some give him credit for, merely because he doesn't assist or score as much as they'd expect

Just a random shout out about this guy. He had a superb last couple of months in the league, and he's showing more of the same for Brazil. Long may it continue.

Edited June 16, 201511 yr by venom2011

Willian is a bit underrated among us fans. If you manage to be MOTM in any prem game in a team consisting of JT, Cesc, Hazard or Matic you've played well.

Based on his performances in the last 1/3 of the season I don't think there was a single right Winger in the Prem I would take over him

Based on his performances in the last 1/3 of the season I don't think there was a single right Winger in the Prem I would take over him

Sanchez, easily. He mirrors Willian's primary strength (selfless defensive work) while being significantly better at pretty much everything else.

Willian is a bit underrated among us fans. If you manage to be MOTM in any prem game in a team consisting of JT, Cesc, Hazard or Matic you've played well.

Yup. It's funny because some of the Manchester United fans always say how good Willian is. They always mention 2 names, Hazard and Willian.

Yup. It's funny because some of the Manchester United fans always say how good Willian is. They always mention 2 names, Hazard and Willian.

However I still think he needs more end product him being such an expensive attacking player. I think Willian himself agrees.

Always liked him just shame about his goal return.

Sanchez, easily. He mirrors Willian's primary strength (selfless defensive work) while being significantly better at pretty much everything else.

Sanchez disappeared in the league after Xmas and in the run in, I find it odd how its barely mentioned.

Sanchez disappeared in the league after Xmas and in the run in, I find it odd how its barely mentioned.

That's not completely true. He was a key player in many matches after Xmas.

Sanchez disappeared in the league after Xmas and in the run in, I find it odd how its barely mentioned.

Not taking anything away from sanchezs as a player but he looses the ball a lot, mainly because he's trying low percentage stuff which I'm sure a lot of us would be happy with but it I'm not sure how many players you can have that try this, hazard tends to be the guy that does this for us and he is far better in terms of keeping the ball then sanchezs.

Also, erickson was a firm pre xmass favourite, did very little after the league cup final.

Other names that have come up in this thread.. Navas and milner.. Hmm

Sanchez disappeared in the league after Xmas and in the run in, I find it odd how its barely mentioned.

 

A player new to the league and unfamiliar with the lack of a winter break had a downturn in form after Christmas? Apart from Hazard, JT and Ivanovic I don't there's a single player in our squad whose performance didn't drop after January 17th.

 

Despite that Sanchez got more goals and made more 'defensive actions' than Willian in that period. To his credit Willian created more chances but I think being a set-piece taker boosted that stat.

 

Over the course of the season though, Sanchez outperformed Willian in almost every aspect both attacking AND defending.

 

But Willian did have a few good matches towards the end of the season and hopefully he can build on them. As he approaches his 27th birthday, maybe he's fulfilling some of that potential he apparently has.

Overall Sanchez did have a better season than Willian however in the last 1/3 of the season Willian did lift his game whilst Sanchez dropped his performance by a few levels.

 

Just hope Willian could maintain this standard for the full season than we can stop complaining about that dreaded right wing